The golden years: Michael Phelps pays tribute to swimming legend Mark Spitz by mimicking his iconic 1972 seven-medal pose with Brazil haul of five golds and one silver
- Michael Phelps pays tribute to Olympic legend Mark Spitz by mimicking his iconic pose with Rio medals
- Phelps was photographed on Tuesday shirtless while wearing his collection of medals from these Games
- The picture was similar to one Spitz posed for after winning seven gold medals in Munich in 1972
- Spitz was also in the crowd to cheer on Phelps in his final Olympic Games in Rio before his retirement
Michael Phelps has paid tribute to swimming legend Mark Spitz by mimicking his iconic pose with his haul of Olympic gold.
Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, posed for a portrait while the five gold and one silver medals he won in Rio were draped around his neck.
The swimmer's performance at the Games took his overall medal tally to 28 - including a staggering 23 golds.
The photo shoot on Thursday was a call-back to one Spitz - who won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics - posed for after his Games triumph.
Spitz, who was widely regarded as America's greatest swimmer before Phelps splashed onto the scene, was photographed by Terry O’Neill with his medals dangling around his neck.
The picture was used to make a poster, which sold more than one million copies and was the most popular portrait of any athlete at the time.
Spitz, now 66, was in Rio to cheer on Phelps in his final Olympics, and was seen in the stands on Day Six of the Games.
![Michael Phelps has paid tribute to swimming legend Mark Spitz by mimicking his iconic pose with his haul of Olympic gold](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/17/14/3753018800000578-0-image-a-13_1471441428610.jpg)
Michael Phelps has paid tribute to swimming legend Mark Spitz by mimicking his iconic pose with his haul of Olympic gold
![Spitz, who was widely regarded as America's greatest swimmer before Phelps splashed onto the scene, was photographed by Terry O¿Neill with his medals dangling around his neck after the 1972 Games in Munich](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/17/14/37537F2400000578-0-image-a-16_1471441438766.jpg)
Spitz, who was widely regarded as America's greatest swimmer before Phelps splashed onto the scene, was photographed by Terry O’Neill with his medals dangling around his neck after the 1972 Games in Munich
![Phelps (pictured after winning the 200m butterfly final) posed for a portrait while the five gold and one silver medals he won in Rio were draped around his neck](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/17/14/370F306900000578-0-image-a-17_1471441488516.jpg)
Phelps (pictured after winning the 200m butterfly final) posed for a portrait while the five gold and one silver medals he won in Rio were draped around his neck
![Phelp is the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time with an overall medal tally of 28 - including a staggering 23 golds](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/17/14/3740652E00000578-0-image-a-26_1471442199092.jpg)
Phelp is the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time with an overall medal tally of 28 - including a staggering 23 golds
![Mark Spitz is seen in the crowd at the Olympics Aquatic Stadium during Day Six of the Rio Olympics Games on August 11](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/17/14/3723D4FC00000578-0-image-m-25_1471441550063.jpg)
Mark Spitz is seen in the crowd at the Olympics Aquatic Stadium during Day Six of the Rio Olympics Games on August 11
![American swimmers Tom Bruce (left) and Mike Stamm (right) carry teammate Mark Spitz on their shoulders during the medal ceremony for their victory in the men's 4x100-meter medley relay race](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/17/19/37564C4F00000578-3745266-image-a-1_1471458171261.jpg)
American swimmers Tom Bruce (left) and Mike Stamm (right) carry teammate Mark Spitz on their shoulders during the medal ceremony for their victory in the men's 4x100-meter medley relay race
![Phelps (pictured after the 4x100m medley relay final) is retiring from the Olympics after Rio](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/17/14/3735C7AA00000578-0-image-a-23_1471441518628.jpg)
Phelps (pictured after the 4x100m medley relay final) is retiring from the Olympics after Rio
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I met Mark Spitz when I was just a little girl and...
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